Pride and Prejudice: Marriage Essay written by Maria Engstrom Introduction For this essay, I chose to read the perhaps most famous book by the English author Jane Austen. During the reading I was thinking about which theme I should choose to write about and analyze, and eventually I felt that marriage was the central keyword in the book. I will concentrate on the situation of the daughters in the family, since these are the best described in the novel. My dealing with different ideals and problems within a marriage will be illustrated with examples from the text. Analysis "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life." This is a quote from Charlotte Lucas, one of the female characters in the novel, and a quote which very well exemplify the general feelings against marriage for the period and the people in upperclass England. Marriage is central for all characters in the novel: not just daughters and sons, but parents, aunts, uncles and everybody else who has some interest in the subject. Though it is of course most in the interest of the daughter herself to get married, the interests of the own family can be important for the choice of husband and wife. It is not appropriate for the daughter to choose whoever she likes for her husband, which she- if she wants a happy marriage- is not very likely to do. I will discuss the reasons for the careful choice of a proper husband below. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" This is the first line in the novel, which clearly shows the connection between money and marriage. It lies in the interest of a woman to marry a man with a fortune, or at least some good deal of money. The husband is meant to support his wife, since he is the one with a profession and she is not (something that will be discussed further down). So, naturally, personal attractions are weighed against financial considerations. This is why Mrs. Gardiner does not think Wickham a ve... ... middle of paper ... ...connection was a permanent one since divorces were very uncommon during this period (and misfortunate for the family's good name, one can imagine). One way for a husband to divorce his wife would be on grounds of sexual infidelity on the wife's hand. This was, however, not an easy path to a divorce. Except from getting the permission of the Parliament to sue the wife, these different steps costed a good deal of money, which lead to only the rich being able afford divorces. Conclusion Marriage is the main subject in the novel, as well as for people of this period. The maybe most important condition for a happy marriage is money besides love family relations. The situation of the women in the novel does not allow them any kind of deviant acting since a happy marriage is the only goal for them. Though this is the general atmosphere in the novel, I would like to end my essay with the words of Mr. Bennet to his daughter Elizabeth on her accepting Mr. Darcy's proposal, which stand like an anti-thesis of the otherwise general view of the perfect marriage: "He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?"
In the end, readers are unsure whether to laugh or cry at the union of Carol and Howard, two people most undoubtedly not in love. Detailed character developments of the confused young adults combined with the brisk, businesslike tone used to describe this disastrous marriage effectively highlight the gap between marrying for love and marrying for ?reason.? As a piece written in the 1950s, when women still belonged to their husbands? households and marriages remained arranged for class and money?s sake, Gallant?s short story excerpt successfully utilizes fictional characters to point out a bigger picture: no human being ought to repress his or her own desires for love in exchange for just an adequate home and a tolerable spouse. May everyone find their own wild passions instead of merely settling for the security and banality of that ?Other Paris.?
Sure, he's abrasive, blunt, unvarnished and maybe egotistical. But he's also got the self-confidence, fearlessness and knowledge of his personal mission that in past years, and some parts of Idaho today, would have gotten him called an uppity N-word, maybe worse.
In this story there are relationships of all kinds and many of them. Each couple has their own unique story and thoughts on how a marriage should occur. There are five major relationships in this story each with their own goals and views. Some chose to marry for the reasons of wealth or social status while others search for the love of another. No matter the reasons situations have brought these couples together and their differing opinions separate them apart. Though in the end no matter the reason each seeks for their own form of happyness.
and waddling fungus growths just shriek with derision i”,”And it is like a woman stooping down
her love in relation to their filial bond. Although her father views this as a
The novel Pride and Prejudice is about five sisters and the things that happen on
right to choose what is best for her and her family, if the women is
If the father is not there for the daughter then consequently, the daughter will place hurt feelings left by the father to potential boyfriends. She will not be as comfortable with a guy as she would be, rather, if she had that father daughter
In the not so quite estate of Longbourn there lived a nice family named the Bennets. This family had five daughters and no sons. Among the second eldest daughter was a Miss. Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth is an intelligent lady who has a lively mind and is always thinking. She is very playful, good-natured and does not easily get offended. She is one to laugh everything off and to have a good time no matter what. In the beginning of the book she is described as proud for the quickness of judging other people in social status. Elizabeth is lovely, cleaver, and has a sharp tongue when it comes to conversations of higher social class. She is one to make quick decisions on a person that leads her astray of their true selves. Love is one thing that is always running through Elizabeth’s mind. She wanted to marry for love and not wealth. She would rather be on the streets than marry someone she despises. Even with all of her adjudicating she is an unfailing handsome girl. She is very honest and true to herself.
If two people are meant to be together, then love will eventually find a way through all of the obstacles, but if two people do not deserve each other’s love then they will be broken apart. Ignoring people and common rules of society will get you nowhere except lonely and unhappy. The ignorant naïve people like Marianne and Willoughby are the ones, who end p suffering, ignorance is a lonely way to go through life. Greed and jealousy of ones family is a difficult obstacle to overcome, however with that obstacle accomplished, it only proves a more pure true love, and shows a great deal of loyalty and strength in the two people who were able to win the battle. Obstacles to a marriage are what prove the love between two people, and without these obstacles two people can never know how strong their love is for one another. In order to know how much someone means to somebody else, their love must be tested by enduring painful obstacles, otherwise how do you know if you can trust your love?
man in possession of a good fortune must be in a want of a wife". This
get in the way of their relationship and Darcy had a lot of trouble getting over the fact
In the nineteenth century, people always cared about how the society viewed them. Either they were rich, or come from a rich family, if they had good manners, and if they were married. In the same century, people were characterized into three classes. The lower class, the middle class, and the upper class. The people that were more concentrated on were the upper class because they had so many expectations to the rest of the society. It was as if they lived their lives just to impress others and not for their own good. In the play, “The Marriage Proposal”, it demonstrates how they are eager to get married, ruling out that they do not get along.
During the ball Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley immediately like each other; in contrast Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet reject each other, in fact when Charles tell Darcy that Elizabeth was "very pretty and agreeable", he answered coldly "she is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me." Nevertheless, both the Bingleys and the Bennets established a close relationship, as Charles and Jane were visibly attracted. Charles' sisters liked Jane but considered Elizabeth very proud and impertinent; they considered Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters tedious as well as with no manners.
her mistaken marriage with her own brother for monetary support, it is important to also